Adler's Legacy #1: Subtle Romance

Chapter Nine

CHAPTER NINE

"WHAT happened after the party?"

Shien asked Riggs while he was signing some paper works. He was done with his morning schedules. Lunch time na kaya nandito ang kapatid niya para dalhan siya ng pagkain. Isa pa ay gusto niyang malamang kung anong nangyari sa maliit na party na hinanda ng kanilang abuela.

"Ruche happened," Riggs shook his head. "She slapped Arianne and she ran away. Tinulungan namin si Arianne dahil iyak ng iyak. Mabuti nalang at nakaantabay lang ang driver nito."

Napaangat si Shien ng tingin sa kapatid niya na nakangisi habang naku-kwento. Ruche was their baddest cousin. Naalala niya pa noong mga bata pa sila ay si Ruche ang nakikipagsuntukan sa kanilang magpipinsan na lalaki. Si Ruche 'rin ang pinaka-bully dahil alam nito na paniniwalaan agad ito ni abuela.

"She really did that?" amused na tanong ni Shien.

"Yes, brother," sagot ni Riggs na kampanteng nakasandal sa upuan na nasa harapan niya. "Your cousin was really protective. Bentang-benta sa kanya ang pakulo mo. Seriously?"

"What?" maang-maangan niyang untag. Alam na niya ang gusto nitong ipahiwatig.

"You really brought your secretary in this mess."

Napabuntong-hininga si Shien. Naisip na niya kung anong magiging kahahantungan ni Valencia sa mga kamay ni Arianne. Arianne could hurt her physically. Alam niya kung ano ang ugali ni Arianne.

"Hindi naman siguro susugurin ni Arianne si Valencia."

"Akala mo lang siguro. Alam mo naman kung anong klase kung magalit si Arianne. Why does she have to keep on insisting that you are the father of her child? Bakit ba kasi hindi maka-move on sa'yo iyang ex mo, Kuya." Nailing na wika ni Riggs.

Hindi na siya nagsalita pa. Natahimik si Shien dahil kahit siya ay hindi niya alam kung bakit ginagambala pa rin siya ni Arianne ngayon. Ito ang nagloko sa kanilang dalawa at nagpakasal sa lalaking nakabuntis dito. They never met again. Shien knew to himself that he never touched Arianne after they broke. Nagpakalunod siya sa alak at nawawalan siya ng malay pero alam niya na si Valencia ang nag-uwi at nag-asikaso sa kanya.

"Pinapasabi ni Francis miss ka na raw niya. Hindi ka na bumibisita sa bar niya," anang Riggs.

Ilang araw na rin siyang hindi nakakatikim ng alak. Hindi niya rin alam kung bakit tinatamad siyang pumunta sa bar na pagmamay-ari ng kaibigan niya na si Francis. Francis owned a lot of business including the bar where usually hang out. Mahigit taon din siyang naging customer ni Francis sa bar nito na isa sa mga patok na negosyo ni Francis. Halos araw-araw siyang nasa bar at naglalasing pero ngayon hindi niya alam kung anong masamang espirito ang sumapi sa kanya dahil nakakaramdam na siya ng pagod uminom.

"I don't think I have the strength to drink a lot of booze, Rigss," he confided in his younger brother. He returned to his desk and resumed his paperwork. He noticed Riggs was giving him a sly grin. "What do we do now?" he yelled at him.

"This is truly quite surprising."

"Surprising? Why?"

"This isn't you, Kuya. This isn't your style. Drinking and dying were two of Shien's favorite pastimes. You don't give a damn about what will happen the next day. You've even admitted to me that drinking is a stress-relieving activity for you." Riggs informed him. Shien did nothing but vigorously shake his head. A part of him was hoping that his brother would drop the matter altogether.

Hindi na niya pinansin ang kapatid niya. Nagpaalam na rin ito sa kanya dahil may kailangan 'din itong asikasuhin sa restaurant nito. Thye bid their goodbyes and Shien resumed to his paper-works.